From the Dog House to the Courthouse:
Man Pleads Guilty to Dog Deaths and Witness Intimidation
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| Dozer Boy and Kyera playing in their yard. |
Last week, a 73-year-old Firestone, Colorado man, Joseph Losinsksi, was sentenced to nine and a half years in prison. His crime: poisoning a chocolate Labrador ( "Dozer Boy") and a German shepherd ( "Kyera") with strychnine-laced meatballs. He pleaded guilty in October to charges of felony aggravated animal cruelty and intimidating a witness. It is an outstanding conclusion to a sad case, and one helped every step of the way by the Animal Legal Defense Fund.
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| ALDF Contract Attorney, Diane Balkin |
ALDF also helped speed the case along by footing the bill for the expensive lab tests at the VGL Lab at U.C. Davis Veterinary School. These tests confirmed that the ground meat found in the stomachs of the dogs was indeed ground pork which was consistent with an empty meat package found in the defendant’s trash. The ground pork was laced with strychnine.
In August of 2011, Joseph Losinski fed poisoned meatballs to the dogs, who were in their own yard. Tesla Dougherty watched as her dog Kyera struggled unsuccessfully to survive the poisoning, and did her best to comfort her as she died. After the death of both dogs, Losinski terrorized his neighbors, according to media reports, many of whom armed themselves and installed security cameras.
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| Dozer Boy |
Kyera |
Losinkski was sentenced on an "Alford" plea—a guilty plea in which a defendant concedes there is enough evidence to convict, and avails of a plea bargain, but still claims his innocence. The U.S. Supreme Court allowed this type of plea in North Carolina v. Alford, 400 US 25 (1970). Losinski pled to two charges: (1) one count of felony aggravated animal cruelty and (2) one count of witness intimidation for sending a threatening letter to a witness in the case. He received nine and a half years: one and a half for the animal cruelty charge and eight for witness tampering. These sentences will be run consecutively, particularly in light of Losinski’s refusal to accept responsibility for his crimes and due to the risk he presents to the community. Although Losinski did not admit his guilt, Weld District Judge Todd Taylor was convinced beyond doubt that Losinski was responsible.
Judge Taylor expressed concern that the defendant seemed to be "motivated by cruelty and some sort of sadistic pleasure." Media reports suggest Losinski had previously been accused of poisoning animals in Minnesota. This case reminds us of the link between cruelty to animals and violence towards humans. But it also shows us that with cooperation and diligence, animal abusers can be locked away and face the prison time they deserve.
Great outcome to a tragic story. There is a lot of poisoning going on, including of wolves in the back country and coyotes. My sense is that all of the trapping and torture of animals going on is being conducted by sadistic psychopaths, including some who work for the government's Wildlife Services agency (I know of at least one employee who intentionally sets his dogs on trapped coyotes to be torn to pieces), and I'm wondering if there are any profilers who could corroborate the linkage between psychopathy and trapping, poisoning, or other killing of wild or domestic animals, or psychological assessment tests that could be given to people who want to buy wolf traps or apply for licenses or poison to kill predators in general. These people are a scourge (judging by the comments they leave on FB pages extolling their exploits) and their traps are all over the public lands, endangering humans and target and non-target animals. They also think they're on a mission from God to rid the earth of predators (any excuse to continue their hobby). I would like to be able to make the case to elected officials and wildlife management agencies that these people are deranged and should not be given licenses or allowed to set traps. Can you offer any guidance? Thank you.
UNA CONDANNA GIUSTISSIMA, UNA CONDANNA ESEMPLARE ! UNA PERSONA CHE UCCIDE ANIMALI E' CAPACE DI UCCIDERE CHIUNQUE, E' UN ASSASSINO E VA TRATTATO COME TALE ! QUESTA E' LA "GIUSTIZIA" CHE DEVE ESSERE ADOTTATA SU TUTTO IL PIANETA, NEI CONFRONTI DI COLORO CHE MALTRATTANO E UCCIDONO ANIMALI.
I'm glad to see that there was not a 'slap on the wrist' or a criminal getting away with this crime, which happens much too often in animal cruelty cases. To have poisoned animals who were in their own yard shows what a twisted mind this man has. Behind bars is where he should be, making it safer out here for the rest of us and our beloved pets.
I suppose 1 1/2 years for killing two dog is something... but would like to see more consequences for killers. If a dog had bit him the dog would have been killed.
While I am glad that he has been found guilty and will be serving time, I wish that the sentence for the animal cruelty was longer than only a year and a half...sentences for animal cruelty seem so short
Why has no one ever helped me when my animals were poisoned by neighbors? Why does El Dorado county get excluded? Police here refuse to enforce animal cruelty laws and they get away with it and I have gotten no help from anyone when I reach out. 12 cats and 1 dog in 12 years.
he should have been made to eat some of his own meatballs.
It has been proven statistically proven time and time again that people who hurt animals also commit violent crimes against other humans. It is critical to enforce harsher punishments for those who commit acts of animal cruelty.
1 and 1/2 years is not enough!!!!!!!!! 5 years for each animal. That ought to stop this horrible crime.
Poor man... When he gets out, we'll have to welcome him back by giving him a big plate full of meatballs...